Last night at Beijing's Mao Live House Beijing, China Damir Sagolj and Joseph Campbell Updated 3 May 2016 21 images Advertisement Mao Live House, a legendary live rock music venue in Beijing, shut its doors on the weekend, the latest closure to hit China's music scene. 24 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Owner Li Chi said the club, popular among fans of punk, metal and alternative rock since it opened nine years ago, was forced to close due to tighter rules on live performances and rising rent. "Originally nobody paid any attention to us because this market is small. Now the market has gotten big, so we're facing legal issues regarding the legitimization of commercial support," he told Reuters during the club's last public concert. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Thank Ray performs on the stage of Mao Live House. Singers in China have long had to contend with official restrictions, despite a thriving music scene. China's censors are notoriously sensitive not just to subversive political content, but also references to sex, drugs and religion. China has tightened control over almost every aspect of civil society since 2012, citing the need to shore up national security and stability. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Mao Live House closed its doors to the public on Sunday but Li said he was looking for another location in Beijing. Several other Beijing clubs have closed in recent weeks. An owner of Dusk Dawn Club said on the messaging app WeChat that it had reopened on Monday after being forced to close on April 21. A Chinese media website had quoted the Dongcheng District Culture Committee as saying the club had to stop all business activity and "rectify" itself. 24 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Feng Chen, a 22-year-old punk rock fan who attended the final concert at Mao Live House, said the closures were worrying for fans of live music. "If there must be less and less places like this in Beijing there might be new ways to hold concerts, like on the street or just find any random place to hold one," she said. 24 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Lai Jinrong, a guitarist with the heavy metal band Logic Out of Control, who played at Mao's on its last night, pointed to competition from night clubs and discos. "I think that rock and roll and metal in China began to die before they reached maturity," he said. 1 / 15 Slideshow 24 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj A girl uses her phone. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj A man sleeps among music instruments. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj A girl shows her tattoos that she said read "The God" in Tibetan. 24 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Drawings are carved into a wall. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Yuanlei Liao, the singer of hardcore band called Thank Ray, wears a read scarf. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Visitors take pictures of themselves. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj A girl uses her phone. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj A person with a tattooed hand grabs a drink. 24 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Fans enjoy the band called Suffocated. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj A member of staff wears a t-shirt with the logo of Mao Live House. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Fans enjoy the band called Mega Souls. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Mega Souls perform. 24 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Owner Li Chi poses with his staff. 24 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj Staff members and some visitors remain at Mao Live House after the club's last night. 23 Apr 2016. Beijing, CHINA. Reuters/Damir Sagolj The logo of Mao Live House is seen on a bar.
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